Your First Food Tour in Amsterdam: What It's Really Like

11 minutes ago

4 min read

"Is this your first food tour?"

It's the first thing I ask on my food tours in Amsterdam, before anyone has eaten a thing. Usually about half of the people raise their hand.

Then I ask the next question: "So what made you book it this time?"

A lot of the time, they don't say anything. They just point at the person standing next to them.

Food tour guests in Amsterdam raising their hands and cups at the start of the tour

Everybody laughs, and I love that moment. Some of my favorite guests are the ones who didn't book it, who came along for their partner, or who "don't really do tours."

Why I ask who's on their first food tour

It's not just small talk. It tells me what people expect. Some have done food tours in other cities, and I always ask where and how it was. Others have no idea what's about to happen, so I explain: we'll go into a lot of places, try one or two bites at each one, and by the end you'll roll yourself into the rest of your day, happy and full.

And when someone tells me it's their first, I tell them I hope it's the start of a new tradition. To me, a food tour is the best way to get to know a new city, so I hope it won't be their last.

The shy first minutes

To be honest, the start is always a little awkward. You're with people you just met, in a city you don't know yet, and nobody knows what to say.

Guests who just met sitting around one table at the start of an Amsterdam food tour

It doesn't last long. After a few minutes, people realize this isn't a serious thing. You can ask anything, say what you really think about a bite, and laugh about it. My goal is always to get there fast, without anyone noticing.

When the food starts to make sense

For a lot of people, it changes before the first bite. Before we try anything, I tell the story behind it: why it's here, why locals love it, and how it connects to what comes next. You can see people start to look at the food differently, and by the time I'm done, they can't wait to taste it.

Then the smiles start. A bite tastes different when you know what's behind it.

A guest laughing at the table during a food tour in Amsterdam

The one who didn't book it

This is my favorite part to watch. A couple of hours later, the person who pointed at their partner is often the one still inside a small fish shop chatting with the owner, after I've told everyone we can go eat outside. Or the one walking back into an Indonesian shop to buy a jar of the spicy sambal we just tried, to take home.

The owner of a small family fish shop in Amsterdam cleaning fish while food tour guests film

And more than once, that's the person who comes up to me at the end to say they loved it, and that they're going to start doing food tours on their other trips.

How a food tour usually ends

Almost always the same way. Nobody's in a hurry to leave. People stay, keep talking and swap plans for the rest of their trip. What I hear most is how much we ate, and how different the places were from anything they would have picked on their own.

Food tour guests relaxing around a table at the end of a tour in Amsterdam

So if you're the one who plans the food on your trips, you already know who you're bringing. And if you're the one being brought along, don't worry. You'll have fun, and you'll leave very full.

If you're in Amsterdam soon, our Market Street Food Tour is a good first one.

Q&A

Is a food tour in Amsterdam worth it?

If you like food and want to see more than the obvious places, yes. You eat a full meal across several stops, hear the stories behind the food, and leave with places to go back to. Do it early in your trip.

My partner isn't really a "tour person." Will they enjoy a food tour?

Very often, yes. A lot of the time, the person who didn't book it ends up enjoying it the most. It's relaxed and fun, and you can ask anything.

Is a food tour a good idea for my first time?

Yes. About half the guests on our Streat Bites tours are on their first food tour, and you don't need to know anything about Dutch food beforehand.

Will I actually be full after a food tour?

Yes. Each stop is one or two bites, but together they add up to a full meal, usually more. Skip the big breakfast.

Is it only Dutch food?

No. You'll try Dutch classics, but also Indonesian, Surinamese and Turkish food, which are a big part of how people in Amsterdam eat today.

Can food tours in Amsterdam handle dietary restrictions?

Vegetarians are welcome on every Streat Bites food tour. For gluten-free, other allergies or food restrictions, we can usually cater too, as long as you tell us before you book. Most of the dishes on the tours aren't suitable for vegans.

How much walking is there on a food tour in Amsterdam?

Not much. The Market Street Food Tour is about 1.5 km and the Hidden Gems Food Tour about 2.5 km, spread over 3 hours with lots of stops, and at some of them we sit down. It's an easy, relaxed pace.

Which Streat Bites food tour is best for a first-timer?

The Market Street Food Tour, in and around Albert Cuyp Market (3 hours), is a great first one. The Hidden Gems Food Tour stays in the city center (3 hours), and the Private Food Tour is just your group, on your date (3 to 4 hours).